Desk pad holder



March 18, 1952 R. G. KENSEL DESK PAD HOLDER Filed Aug. 15, 1950 i I II I A, I

1171 5 i722: 1 Poberf George Kensel Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE Claims.

This invention relates to a non-skid pad holder for holding a pad of paper on a desk or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a desk pad holder having improved means for retaining a pad of paper thereon and for retaining the cover member on the base member thereof.

Although holders for pads of paper are well known in the stationery art, there has long been a need for a simple pad holderembodying positive and long-lasting pad gripping means contained in a body member of sufficient weight and with sufiicient non-skid characteristics to stay put wherever placed with the papers firmly retained thereon.

The pad holders of the present invention are especially useful where the user frequently has one hand occupied such as with a telephone and must therefore take orders, notes, etc. with the other without being able to 'hold down the order or note pad. These pad holders are also especially useful where writing is done out of doors as is the situation with filling station attendants, etc. where the pad and holder are subject to inadvertent moving due to wind and so forth and where the pad holder receives rough treatment.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved non-skid. pad holder embodying a novel wedge means for retaining one end portion of the pad within the holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for retaining a pad on a pad holder and for releasing the same when it is desired to change pads.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pad holder having a pleasing appearance and having positive pad-retaining means embodied in a sufiiciently heavy body member for preventing inadvertent moving of the holder and inadvertent loosening of the pad.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pad holder having improved pad clamping means for assisting in retaining a cover on a base member.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a pad holder having a relatively heavy body member with a cover member of pleasing appearance positively attached thereon in a simple and expeditious manner.

A specific object of this invention is to provide an improved desk pad holder including a novel pad retaining means comprising a normally floating clamping bar and eccentric wedge means associated with the ends thereof for urging the bar into retaining contact with an end portion of the pad thereon.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pad holder according to the present invention with a pad of paper retained thereon;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the pad holder and pad of paper shown in Figure 1 with the cover member broken-away to show the spring releasing means in conjunction with the clamping bar and the tongue-and-groove cover retaining means at one end; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along line III-III of Figure 2 with parts in elevation;

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view partly broken away and taken substantially along line IVIV of Figure 2 with parts in elevation; and

Figure 5 is a partial end elevational view of one front corner of the pad holder as indicated by the line VV in Figure 2 and with the cover member broken away to show the retaining slot.

As shown on the drawings:

According to the present invention, a relatively heavy base member is provided with a cover having a pleasing appearance and with a relatively flat portion to receive a pad of paper. An elongated aperture or slot is provided in the cover at one end of the flat portion in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto and is adapted to receive the end or head portion of a pad of paper which is disposed on this flat portion. Within the cover member adjacent the aperture is an elongated floating clamping bar having an eccentric countersunk or tapered recess at each end for receiving an end of a thumbscrew which is threadedly inserted through support plates at each side of the cover member. The outer ends of the thumbscrews are provided with knurled heads for turning the same in order to urge the inner ends into the tapered recesses in the clamping bar to retainingly urge the clamping bar against the head end portion of the pad. Spring means are provided to urge the clamping bar away from the head end portion of the pad when the thumbscrews are loosened. Simple and expeditious means are provided for retaining the cover member on the base member, and such means include the thumbscrews for retaining one end portion and a pair of slots in the base member cooperating with lugs formed from the cover member for retaining the other end portion. The

bottom of the base member is provided with a non-abrasive, non-skid pad or footing of rubber or the like.

In Figure 1 is shown a pad holder l9 having a cover member H of metal or plastic material with a substantially flat table or pad rest surface l2 thereon. The cover member H terminates at one end in a downwardly turned curved foot section 13 which is substantially a contoured continuation of the flat surface 12. At its other or rear end the cover member I l is provided with a head portion [4 which comprises a laterally extending cutter plate l5 formed with a lower cutting edge. The cutter plate I5 is of relatively narrow depth substantially perpendicular to the flat base [2. The head portion l4 includes a downwardly curved end cover l6 extending from the upper edge of the surface in a gently downwardly sloping curved path to the rear end edge of the cover member II. A side plate l1 closes each side of the cover member II. The cover member may be formed of a single piece of material by deep drawing or molding or may comprise two or more pieces joined by welding or bonding.

A pad of paper l8 of a selected thickness is disposed on the fiat surface I2 and has an end or head portion inserted through an elongated aperture or slot I9 which is formed through the surface I5 with one edge lying along the fiat surface l2 of the cover member. The plate l5 may have its lower edge undercut as shown at l9a to form a cutter to facilitate tearing off a used sheet of paper from the top of the pad.

As seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, an elongated normally floating clamping bar is disposed transversely over the end or head portion of the pad l8 which is inserted into the aperture l9. Means of an eccentric type are provided for urging the clamping bar 20 downwardly on the end portion of the pad l8 for positively retaining the pad in place. I-Ierein such means comprise a tapered or countersunk recess 2| formed in each end of the clamping bar 20 and. conicallyended cooperating thumbscrews 22.

The thumbscrews 22 have beveled or conical end portions 23 and threaded shanks 24 with integral enlarged knurled heads 25 at the outer ends thereof. The thumbscrew shanks 24 are threadedly inserted through internally threaded holes 26 in side support plates 21, one plate being located adjacent each end of the clamping bar 23. The holes 26 are eccentrically located downwardly with respect to the tapered recesses 2! when the end portion of the pad I9, which is within a predetermined range of thickness. is positioned under the clamping bar 20. When the thumbscrews 22 are moved inwardly, the beveled end portions 23 ride up the tapered surfaces of the recesses 2| urging the clamping bar 20 firmly and positively downwardly against the head of the pad.

The downward face of the end portion of the pad I8 is disposed on a clamping bracket 28 which resists downward movement of the end portion as the clamping bar 29 is urged downwardly by the thumbscrews 22, and hence the pad end portion is firmly and positively clamped between the bar 20 and the clamping bracket 28.

As herein shown, the clamping bracket 28 may comprise a Z-shaped section having a lower leg 29 and an upper leg 30 connected by means of a web 28a with a surface plate 3| attached to the upper surface of the leg 30 as by spot-welding and substantially covering the same.

In order to properly position the clamping bar 20 longitudinally with respect to the pad holder l0 and to provide a stop for properly positioning the pad end under the bar, an angle 32 is retainingly attached to the surface plate 3| of the clamping bracket 28 by welding or the like. The angle 32 has a substantially vertical leg 33 extending in substantially parallel spaced relation to the face [5 of the cover member H to retain the clamping bar 20 therebetween and to provide a positioning stop for the end of the pad I8.

For urging the clamping bar 20 upwardly into a floating position when the thumbscrews 22 are loosened in order to release a retained pad or to provide sumcient clearance to insert a new pad, biasing means are provided. Any suitable type of biasing means can be utilized, but herein such means comprise a spring wire fork 34 having a pair of end portions 35 inserted transversely through a pair of holes 36 formed through the clamping bar 20. A looped end of the spring fork 34 is retained against the outer end of the leg 30 of the clamping bracket 28 by means of a screw 31 and a mating nut 38. When the beveled 3 end portions 23 of the thumbscrews 22 are withan J!) drawn from the recesses 2 I, the bias of the fork 34 is sufficient to raise the clamping bar upwardly so that the lower face thereof is above the upper edge of the aperture I9 through the face l5.

For providing sufiicient weight and non-skid characteristics to the pad holder in order to prevent inadvertent movement or skidding of the holder during use and for providing means for attaching the cover member Ii, the support plates 21 and the clamping bracket 28 in proper spaced relationship, a relatively heavy base member 39 is utilized. A non-skid mat or footing 40 of rubber or-other material having suitable non-skid characteristics is firmly attached to the bottom surface of the base member 39 as by rubber bonding or the like. It will be readily understood that the mat 40 may be in a single piece as shown or may comprise a plurality of non-connected rubber buttons or pads of any suitable construction or design.

The proper spaced relationship between the plates 21 and the clamping bracket 28 is maintained by fixedly attaching these members to the base member 39 by any suitable method such as welding.

A very simple and expeditious means is utilized for detachably connecting the cover member H to the base member 39. At the top portion of the pad holder, as shown in Figure 2, this attachment is provided by the thumbscrews 22 which have their shanks 24 extending through relatively close-fitting openings 4|. The lower edge portion of the cover member I I fits snugly about the edges of the base member 39 when the cover is properly positioned thereon. A tongue-andgroove means is utilized for attaching the lower front end portion of the cover member on the base member. As seen in Figures 2 and 5, a triangular groove or slot 42 is provided through the edges of the corners of the lower end portion of the base member 39, and a tongue or lug 43 is provided at the lower edge portion of the cover member ll adjacent each of the slots 42 and projects retainingly thereinto when the cover member is properly assembled on the base member 39. Thus, it can be readily seen that the cover member ll may be easily and quickly assembled with the base member 39 by first inserting the tongues 43 within the grooves 42 and then by threadedly inserting the thumbscrews 22 into the threaded holes 26 in the. plates 2 through the positioning openings 4| in the cover member. The assembled cover and base members may be referred to. as the body member of the pad holder. The thumbscrews 22 thus serve a double function of controlling the clamping bar 20 and also acting as a means for locking the cover member I l to the base member 39.

It will be readily understood that this invention provides a simple, easily manufactured and easily assembled pad holder which embodies an expeditious means for positively holding a pad thereon and which is provided with suiiicient weight and non-skid characteristics to prevent inadvertent moving of the, holder during use.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a body member having a substantially fiat portion for receiving the pad thereon, said body member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad of paper, an element engaging said pad end portion and having inclined surfaces at the end of the element, and transversely movable members slidably engaging said inclined surfaces to clamp said pad end portion between said element and said body member.

2. A deskpad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a body member having a substantially flat portion for receiving the pad thereon, said body member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad, a clamping bar within said body member adjacent said aperture, said clamping bar having Wedge end portions, and threaded members threadedly inserted through opposite sides of said body member and having end portions slidably engaging said bar wedge ends to urge the bar into retaining contact with the end portion of the pad of paper.

3. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a body member having a substantially flat portion for receiving the pad thereon, said body member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad, a clamping bar within said body member adjacent the aperture, said clamping bar having an inwardly converging tapered recess at each end thereof, threaded means threadedly inserted through opposite sides of said body member and having end portions slidably disposed within the recesses in said clamping bar, said threaded means being movable inwardly to coact with said tapered recesses to urge said clamping bar into retaining contact with the end portion of the pad.

4. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a body member having a substantially flat portion for receiving the pad thereon, said body member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad, a clamping bar movably disposed within said body member adjacent the aperture, said clamping bar having inclined surfaces at its ends, and transversely movable members slidably engaging said inclined surfaces to urge the bar into retaining contact with the end portion of the pad of paper, and biasing means for urging the bar out of retaining contact with the end portion of the pad when said wedge means are disengaged.

5. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a body member having a substantially flat portion for receiving the pad thereon, said body member having an aperture therein for receiving an end'portion of the pad, a. lampin bar within said bodi member adjacent the aperture, said clamping bar having an inwardly converging tapered recess at each end thereof, threaded means threadedly inserted through opposite sides of said body member and having end portions slidably disposed within the recesses in said clamping bar, said threaded means being normally eccentrically located with respect to the recesses in said bar and movable inwardly to coact with said tapered recesses to urge said clamping bar into retaining contact with the end portions of the pad and movable outwardly for disengaging said bar therefrom, and biasing means for urging the bar out of retaining contact with said pad end portion when said threaded means are moved outwardly.

6. A, desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a base member, a cover member attached over said base member and having a flat portion generally parallel to said base member and adapted for receiving the pad in relatively fiat relationship thereon, said cover member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad, a clamping bar within said cover member adjacent the aperture, said clamping bar having an inwardly converging tapered recess extending longitudinally into each end thereof, support plates fixedly attached to said base member and positioned between said cover member and the ends of said bar, each of said plates having a threaded hole therethrough normally eccentrically located with respect to the corresponding aperture in said bar, thumbscrews having threaded shanks threadedly inserted through the holes in said plates and having end portions slidably disposed within the recesses in said clamping bar, said thumbscrews being movable inwardly to coact with said tapered recesses to urge said clamping bar into retaining contact with the end portion of the pad and movable outwardly for disengaging said bar therefrom, and spring means for urging the bar out of retaining contact with said pad end portion when said thumbscrews are moved outwardly.

'7. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of ,paper comprising a relatively heavy base member, a cover member attached over said base member and having a fiat portion for receiving the pad of paper thereon, said cover member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad of paper, cutter means formed on the cover member for tearing off sheets of the pad, an element engaging said pad end portion and having inclined surfaces at the ends of the element, transversely movable members slidably engaging said inclined surfaces to retainingly grip said end portion of the pad, and non-skid footings fixedly attached to the bottom of said base member for preventing inadvertent movement of the pad during use.

8. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a base member, a cover member detachably connected over said base member and having a fiat portion for receiving the pad of paper thereon, said cover member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad of paper, a clamping bar engaging said pad end portion and having wedge end portions, transversely movable members inserted through opposite sides of said cover member and having end portions slidably engaging said bar wedge end to urge the bar into retaining contact with the pad end portion, and means for detachably connecting said cover member to said base member, said last-mentioned means including slots in the corner edges at one end of the base member and lugs formed on said cover member retainingly disposed in the slots.

9. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a base member, a cover member detachably connected over said base member and having a flat portion for receiving the pad of paper thereon, said cover member having an aperture therein for receiving an end portion of the pad of paper, wedge means adjacent the aperture in the cover member for retainingly gripping the end portion of the pad, said wedge means including manually operable thumbscrews, said cover member having holes therethrough for receiving the shank portions of said thumbscrews, and means for detachably connecting said cover member to said base member, said last-mentioned means including said thumbscrews disposed in the holes in said cover member and additionally including slots in the corner edges of one end of the base member and lugs formed on said cover member retainingly disposed in the slots.

10. A desk pad holder for holding a pad of paper comprising a base member, a cover member detachably connected over said base member and having a fiat portion for receiving the pad in relatively flat relationship thereon, said cover member having an aperture and a cutter edge therein for receiving an end portion of the pad, a clamping bar within said cover member adjacent the aperture, said clamping bar having an inwardly converging tapered recess extending longitudinally into each end thereof, support plates fixedly attached to said base member and positioned between said cover member and the ends of said bar, each of said plates having a threaded hole therethrough normally eccentrically located with respect to the corresponding aperture in said bar, said cover member having holes therethrough substantially coaxial with the threaded holes through said plates, thumbscrews having threaded shanks threadedly inserted through the holes in said plates and slidably inserted through the holes in said cover member, said thumbscrews having end portions slidably disposed within the recesses in said clamping bar, said thumbscrews being movable inwardly to coact with said tapered recesses to urge said clamping bar into retaining contact with the end portion of the pad and movable outwardly for disengaging said bar therefrom, biasing means for urging the bar out of retaining contact with said pad end portion when said thumbscrews are moved outwardly, and means for detachably connecting said cover member to said base member.

ROBERT GEORGE KENSEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,193,090 Wardman Aug. 1, 1916 1,635,974 Meserole July 12, 1927 2,422,474 Davis June 17, 1947 2,500,468 Postell Mar. 14, 1950 2,511,843 Graether June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 613,570 France Aug. 2'7, 1926 628,553 France June 28, 1927 

